Title: Academic performance of students on the grounds of their satisfaction with distance education

Authors: Esmael Almeida Machado; Luís Eduardo Afonso

Addresses: Centre for Applied Social Sciences (Núcleo de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas – NUCS), State University of Mato Grosso do Sul (Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul – UEMS), Itibiré Vieira, S/N – Residencial Julia de Oliveira Cardinal, Ponta Pora, MS – 79907-414, Brazil ' School of Economics, Business and Accounting (Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade – FEA), University of Sao Paulo (Universidade de São Paulo – USP), Av. Luciano Gualberto, 908 – Building FEA-3, Cidade Universitaria, Sao Paulo, SP – 05508-010, Brazil

Abstract: This article aims to define how the learning outcomes in distance education (DE) in Brazil are influenced by student satisfaction. In particular, it will help us to understand which aspects of the business courses in DE are providing higher satisfaction to their students. Thus, it was decided to adopt a mixed method research strategy consisting of a survey and archival investigations. Based on a special extraction of micro-data from the 2012 National Student Performance Exam (ENADE), records of 39,190 students enrolled in the distance education format were combined with 5,087 valid responses to a survey conducted using an electronic questionnaire. The use of partial least squares structural equation modelling allowed us to infer the nomological validity of the constructs. Among the results, it should be highlighted that the hypotheses of a positive association between satisfaction with interactivity, and with performance and the students' learning results were sustained.

Keywords: distance education; satisfaction; partial least squares; higher education; unified theory of acceptance and use of technology; UTAUT.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2018.089616

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2018 Vol.23 No.2, pp.196 - 226

Received: 31 Aug 2016
Accepted: 27 Sep 2016
Published online: 02 Feb 2018 *

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